CHEYENNE - Long-time Dubois game warden Cole Thompson has retired after more than 35 years of service with the Game and Fish Department.

A native of Jackson, Thompson graduated from Jackson High School and then attended the University of Wyoming earning a bachelor's degree in wildlife management.

Before becoming a game warden he worked temporary jobs with the Game and Fish as a field technician and on a hay crew for elk feedgrounds. He served as warden in Casper and in 1978 was made game warden in Cheyenne. In 1979 he transferred to Worland and in 1992 transferred to Dubois as game warden.

In 1996 he was honored as Wyoming Wildlife Officer of the Year by Shikar Safari Club International.

Throughout his career he had the respect of his peers and the public alike. "Cole's zeal for his profession both with law enforcement duties and public relations made him an exemplary wildlife officer," said Thompson's former supervisor Kent Schmidlin.

Chief Game Warden Brian Nesvik paid tribute to Thompson's career as a game warden. "Cole is a modern day mountain man with tremendous outdoor skills," Nesvik said. "His service as a game warden reflected his sincere passion for wildlife and Wyoming's wild places."(Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)